Well this is sad news. Audi Sport, the team that has so dominated Le Mans in the 21st century, will leave the World Endurance Championship to concentrate on Formula E. Yes, you read that right.
Audi chairman Rupert Stadler said in a statement: "As our production cars are becoming increasingly electric, our motorsport cars, as Audi's technological spearheads, have to even more so." Certainly that had been suggested with the focus on hybrid LMP1 cars, but to leave entirely and concentrate on Formula E is a surprise. Next season Audi will not be in the WEC.
Its Formula E effort will begin with providing support for the ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport team, ahead of a full factory team for the 2017-2018 season. Jaguar versus Audi moves from the motorway to motorsport!
The move away from sportscars follows an 18-year stint of extraordinary success for Audi; its 13 victories at Le Mans are the same as Ferrari and Alfa Romeo combined, all since the year 2000.
As for Audi's other motorsport efforts, little is yet known. The R8 LMS cars are built by Audi Sport but run by privateer teams, so will not be affected. The DTM program is set to be safe too, although the support of Mattias Ekstrom's EKS World Rallycross team is less certain.
The reason for all this, in case you hadn't already surmised, would appear to be the 'dieselgate' scandal. Yep, it's back (!). VW is understandably now less keen to showcase its diesel tech; not only does removing an LMP1 effort do that, it also saves money to put towards making more electric cars.
All rather depressing for motorsport fans, even if Audi's LMP cars perhaps won't be remembered as the most revered Le Mans racers. Who will be next?
PHers are already discussing Audi's departure. Join the chat here.
[Sources: Autocar, Audi]
[Images: LAT Photo]